Ralph b



B. B. CASS.

BOOK RACK.

Arrucmpn FILED JULY 9. 1919.

Patented Sept. 30,1919.

Rama; INVENTOR WITNESSES A TTORNE Y8 RALPH B. CASS, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND,

BOOK-BACK.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, RALPH B. Cass, a citi zen of the United States, and a resident of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Book-Racks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in book racks, and has for its object to provide a rack of the character specified of compact, v

durable and ornamental form and adjustable in length, and capable of being folded into a flat condition for storage or transportation.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved rack unfolded;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section showing the rack unfolded;

Fig. 3 is a similar view folded. y

In the present embodiment of the inven tion, the improved rack consists of two sections of skeleton form. Each section is substantially yoke shaped, comprising a body 1 and arms 2 extending from the ends of the body at substantially right angles thereto, and the body of each section is provided with a series of fingers 3.

These fingers are adapted to .interlace, as shown in Flg. 1, to permit sliding movement of the sections while holding the sections in the same plane. A cross bar 4;,is secured transversely of each series of fingers near their free ends, and it will be evident that these bars, by their engagement, will limit the sliding movement of the sections away from eachother.

The ends of the fingers are rounded, as shown at 5, and the spaces between the fingers are also rounded, as shown at 6, to fit the rounded ends of the fingers of the other series so that when the sections are shoved close together, there will be a plane surface without breaks.

A cross bar 7 is secured transversely of the arms 2 of each section near their outer ends and an end 8 is pivoted between each pair of arms, the pivotal connection 9 of showing the rack each end being just outside the adjacentwith respect to each other,-

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 30, 1919. Application filed July 9, 1919. Serial No. 309,551.

a position at right angles to the plane of the to permit the plates to fit smoothly when they are folded. As shown in Fig. 3, the ends 8 may be folded down into the space between the arms and the bodies of the yoke, andwhen so folded the rack is a flat body, easily packed or stored.

A considerable degree of permitted by the interlacing arrangement of the fingers, while at the same time the sections are firmly held together against displacement. In practice, the lower faces of the cross bars A and 7 will be covered with a cushioning layer of felt or'the like to prevent marring of tables or .desks upon which the rack may be arranged.

With the improved rack it may be adjusted in lengthto fit the number of' books held. In practice, the improved rack will be made of veneered wood, and it will be evident that the entire rack, exclusive of the cross bars, may be cut from a single piece of board, every part of the board being utilized. With a jigsaw, for instance, the entire rack might be cut out with three cuts, one for each of the ends and one for the interlacing fingers.

. I claim:

1. A book rack composed of sections, each consisting of a body and arms extending from the ends of the body, each body having a series of fingers extending in the opposite direction from the arms and'the fingers the sections being alternately arranged and slidable with respect to each other, cross bars connected with the ends of the series of fingers for limiting the movement of the sections away from each other, and ends pivoted between the arms of the yokes and adapted to be folded down into the plane of the body of the yoke or at right angles adjustment is thereto, the cross bars at the ends of the 1 body being in position for engagement by the folding ends to hold said ends in upright position.

2. A book rack composed of sections, each consisting of a body and arms extending from the ends of the body, each body having a series of fingers extending in the opposite direction from the arms and the fingers of the sections being alternately arranged and slidable with respect to each other, cross bars connected with the ends of the series of fingers for limiting the movement of the sections away from each other, and ends pivoted between the arms of the yokes and adapted to be folded down into the plane of the body of the yoke orat right angles thereto.

3. A book rack composed of sections, each 10 consisting of a body and arms extending 'from the ends of the body, each body having a series of fingers extending in the opposite direction from the arms and the fingers of the sections being alternatelyjarranged and slidable with respect to each other, means for limiting the outward movement of the right angles thereto.

RALPH B. CASS. 

